Coyotes’ Jakob Chychrun nominated for Bill Masterton trophy
Mar 28, 2018, 4:06 PM
Arizona Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun (6) battles with Calgary Flames left wing Johnny Gaudreau (13) for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game Monday, March 19, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Defenseman Jakob Chychrun earned the Arizona Coyotes’ nomination Tuesday for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy given to the NHL player who best shows “perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to ice hockey.”
When it comes to perseverance this season, Chychrun has a good as any backstory compared to the remaining 30 nominees for the award.
Chychrun suffered a serious, undisclosed knee injury in the offseason and underwent surgery on Aug. 3. Told that a rehabilitation process would take up to six months, Chychrun was already back to skating by late October. He made his return after missing 29 games on Dec. 3, scoring a goal in a 3-2 overtime loss to Las Vegas.
“He’s just a physical freak, but it’s a testament to Jakob’s work ethic that he was able to come back so fast,” Arizona general manager John Chayka told Arizona Sports’ Craig Morgan after the defenseman returned.
Since, Chychrun has played in 46 games, scoring three goals and recording 10 assists while averaging 20:27 minutes on the ice per game.
For the Masterton trophy, three finalists will be named, and a winner among them will be announced at the NHL Awards show in June.
